India’s statement on Israeli attack weak: Palestine

New Delhi, June 22 (IANS) Palestine Tuesday said it was “surprised” over India’s “weak” statement on the May 31 Israeli attack on a flotilla of civilian aid ships bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip. “The Indian government issued a weak statement. It didn’t mention Israel. That is not the political heritage of India’s ruling party,” Palestinian Ambassador Adli Sadeq told a conference organised by Indo-Palestine Friendship Society and Indo-Arab Solidarity Council here.

The conference was attended by diplomats from various muslim countries including Egypt and Iran.

Sadeq said India’s “weak statement” came even as 20 Jewish organisations strongly condemned the Israeli attack on the flotilla in which nine peace activists were killed.

India, like China which enjoys good relations with Israel, should have strongly condemned the Israeli behaviour, Sadeq said.

He said since Jawaharlal Nehru’s period, the leadership of India know the Israeli behaviour towards Palestine.

“Now, Israel tries to convince India that they help India to fight terrorism. That is a lie,” the ambassador said.

Later, Sadeq told IANS that Palestine has conveyed its “anguish” to India over the statement.

“I hope that Indian government and the people would stand with us in all international forums,” the diplomat said. He also added that Indian assistance to Palestine is continuing.

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh, under whose initiative the conference was held, said the Indian government should have issued a statement of strong condemnation.

He said he would convey the sentiments of the Palestine ambassador to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

On June 1, a day after the attack, external affairs ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters that India deplored the tragic loss of life and the reports of killings and injuries to people on the boats carrying supplies for Gaza.

“There can be no justification for such indiscriminate use of force, which we condemn. (We) extend our sympathies to the families of the dead and wounded,” he said.

“It is our firm conviction that lasting peace and security in the region can be achieved only through peaceful dialogue and not through use of force,” Prakash said.